Sex differences in cardiovascular reactivity: effects of the gender relevance of the stressor

Suggests that sex differences in cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) in past research are a function of differences in cognitive appraisal of stressors as masculine or feminine tasks. In the present study, we examined the role of the gender relevance of the stressor as a mediator of sex differences in C...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inHealth psychology Vol. 10; no. 6; p. 392
Main Authors Lash, S J, Gillespie, B L, Eisler, R M, Southard, D R
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 1991
Subjects
Adolescent
Adult
Arousal - physiology
Attention - physiology
Autonomic Nervous System - physiology
Blood Pressure - physiology
Female
Gender Identity
Heart Rate - physiology
Humans
Individuality
Male
Psychophysiology
Set (Psychology)
Type A Personality
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Summary:Suggests that sex differences in cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) in past research are a function of differences in cognitive appraisal of stressors as masculine or feminine tasks. In the present study, we examined the role of the gender relevance of the stressor as a mediator of sex differences in CVR. The CVR of male and female college students (n = 95) to the cold pressor test (CPT) was compared under masculine and gender-neutral instructions during an anticipation phase, a stressor phase, and a recovery phase. Men were expected to show greater CVR than women to the masculine CPT but not to the gender-neutral CPT. Results supported this prediction for systolic blood pressure reactivity and heart rate reactivity but not for diastolic blood pressure reactivity. The potential influence of sex differences in appraisal of situations on CVR and coronary heart disease is discussed.
ISSN:0278-6133
DOI:10.1037/0278-6133.10.6.392